The Opioid epidemic

First, choose the argumentative essay topic the opioid epedimic
Next, find an opinion article from the New York Times,US News, Washington Post. The article you choose for this assignment should have a clearly identifiable argument on this topic, not just giving us an overview of the issue itself. This will challenge you to look more critically at this different perspective while also working to practice your skills at evaluating arguments. You may also use this article later on in your position essay, either as a means of support (if you agree) or as a counter-argument (if they disagree with you).
Finally, you will complete the Argument Evaluation essay for the chosen article.

Your evaluation of the argument should be focused on establishing how well this argument is constructed and presented. Of course, you dont have to disagree or agree with every point or every aspect of the article (although in some instances, you may) – most quality articles have also gone through the same process and thought that your own arguments will. However, thats not to say theyre perfect, especially if you disagree with the author on the topic. The goal here is for us to closely understand and evaluate what makes a strong argument and what makes a weak argument. Things to consider in your evaluation of this argument include:

Style, language, and/or tone: Is the language too formal for its audience (to the point where they may not understand whats being argued)? Is it too informal, meaning that the audience doesnt take the author seriously? Is its tone condescending, flippant, or otherwise off-putting for the reader, or is it inviting and engaging?
Support and Evidence: Does the author work to not only clearly express his/her argument, but support it sufficiently? Does the author provide sources/information that are credible and accurate? Is he/she representing those sources in a fair, ethical way?
Strength of Overall Argument: Does the author address key considerations or issues about this topic in his/her argument or no? Do they address or anticipate the counter-argument to their own?
Organization & Clarity: Does the author present his/her ideas clearly for the reader, making it easy to see not only the overall thesis but the supporting details and points as well? Are points arranged in a way that builds off one another logically, or are they scattered and disorganized?
Fallacies: Does the author commit any rhetorical fallacies in the foundations of their idea or support of the argument?
Audience: Does this article work to engage the reader in a meaningful way (including things like effective or ineffective rhetorical appeals)? Does it appeal to their concerns clearly? Who is this possible intended audience?
Bias: Does the writer have a clear bias, either politically, religiously, or otherwise that might affect their ability to effectively consider this topic? Do they engage in stereotypical ideas, language, or examples?

Your evaluation (whether it’s a strong or weak argument) should come from the evaluation and analysis of the argument itself, not your opinion on the issue. An argument you agree with can be sloppy and poorly done; an argument you disagree with can be well-constructed. Don’t let your own biases impact the quality of your analysis. Focus on both flaws in the argument as well as what the author does well, valid points they make, or how they offer up an approach you hadnt previously considered. No argument is perfect, but some are better than others.

Your evaluation is NOT a summary of the argument itself – instead, be critical, examine every word, phrase, and piece of evidence and work towards showing YOUR reader whether this argument is strong or weak. Your opinion on the issue overall is also not front and center here – save that for your argumentative essay later.
This essay will be 2-3 pages, double spaced, and following MLA formatting conventions (Times New Roman, 12 point font, 1 inch margins, etc.). A Works Cited page will be included as a part of the page count, and will need to cite the article youre evaluating. If necessary, you may use up to 2 secondary sources, say for disproving a specific claim the author makes, but again, your essay should consist primarily of your OWN evaluation of this argument.

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